DIY: Incorporate Art into Your Home

The artistic flair in this South Lake Union houseboat has us inspired. Here’s how the homeowners achieved such an artful effect in their interior décor.

1 EXPLOIT TEXTURE

The homeowners affixed a section of a vintage Golden Girl Cola sign to the front of the kitchen island. The texture of the sign lends an unexpected break in the fir cabinetry, while the colors relate to the nearby yellow-painted wall.

2 THINK BEYOND WHITE PAINT

The stairwell wall, dubbed the “Sunshine Wall,” was painted a bright yellow as a bright backdrop for various pieces of art.

3 INCORPORATE FOUND OBJECTS

Anything can become art if it’s displayed right. “For one of the doors we collected beer bottle caps from all over the world and just hammered them around a mirror,” said architect Jim Graham.

4 SET THE MOOD

The Plexiglass in the kitchen cabinets is lined with photos from the family’s travels and backlit with interior cupboard lights. The goal, said the homeowner, was not to necessarily see the images clearly but to set the mood.

5 CUSTOMIZE

In a nod to the aquatic neighborhood, the homeowner worked with a lighting designer to create the silk fabric overhead lights in the living area, in order to evoke jelly fish or bubbles rising out of the water. Each fixture has various colored bulbs inside in order to cast a different glow depending on the occasion.

SOURCE FROM FAR AWAY—AND CLOSE TO HOME

Since the family loves to travel, they pick up treasures along the way and weave those into their décor. For instance, one bedroom has a hand-carved door from Morocco. The photo mural of the marina in the living area was photographed by a good friend of the family.